Exploring OHSA LockOut/TagOut Rules and How KEYper Systems Can Help
“Hazardous energy sources” include electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other types of mechanical equipment that can pose a hazard to workers if handled improperly. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has thus instituted rules regarding the regulation and access of hazardous energy sources in the workplace. LockOut/TagOut procedures are designed to protect your employees through the control of devices that limit access to hazardous energy sources and allow machinery and other systems to be disabled during maintenance or repairs to prevent injury to workers on the job.
The Importance of Controlling Hazardous Energy Source
An estimated three million Americans perform job functions that could put them at risk due to uncontrolled hazardous energy sources. OHSA LockOut/TagOut regulations are in place to protect your employees while they perform work duties. During servicing or repairs, improper handling of hazardous energy equipment can cause injury or even death to workers who may be exposed to dangers that include electricity, heat, and more. Having standard LockOut/TagOut procedures in place prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year, in addition to reducing the number of missed workdays due to injuries incurred on the job.
How Employers Keep Employees Safe
The OHSA standards regulating LockOut/TagOut procedures state that employers must develop, implement, and enforce a system that regulates access to hazardous energy sources to protect employees while at work. This system may use either lockout or tagout devices to ensure equipment is not activated in circumstances where it could injure employees while servicing or repairing equipment or systems. Lockout or tagout devices must be identifiable by user and can only be removed by the employee who put it in place to ensure others cannot accidentally remove it while work is being done.
How KEYper Systems Can Help
KEYper Systems is a leader in providing key and lock control systems that can benefit your business. We know that key and lock replacement is costly, while improper use of locks could put your employees at risk. Our KEYper® key Lockbox Management Systems provide the tools your safety division needs to easily and properly implement OHSA LockOut/TagOut procedures. Each lock management system can store and manage up to 75 individual padlocks, either with or without locking enclosures. Every employee is issued an access peg for his or her individual lock. To use a lock, the access peg must be inserted into the port beside it; the peg cannot be removed until the lock is returned. This system provides you with an at-a-glance inventory of which locks and keys are currently in use, and by whom. Controlled access to your padlock and key inventory will not only increase efficiency by ensuring locks and keys are available to employees at all times, but also improve safety by strictly controlling access to lockout and tagout devices and providing you with up-to-date information on which devices are in use at any time.
Whether your business is small or large, KEYper Systems is here to offer cost-effective and secure key, lock, and license plate control systems. Our key management systems have been used by businesses, educational institutions, government installations, and more to improve safety and efficiency. You can learn more about our products or find support and training videos on our website; be sure to check out the latest news for more information about key management tailored to your needs.